Image correction method, apparatus, article and image

ABSTRACT

An image correction method able to avoid error image. According to opposite properties of black and white, only the last few bits of the scanned digital signal are extracted for black correction, while only the first few bits of the scanned digital signal are extracted for white correction. Further, the most significant bit of the digital signal is 1 for white correction. Therefore, the unwanted LBB effect on the scanned image caused by dust or spot on the correction document is avoided. In addition, as only a few bits of the scanned digital signal are extracted, the requirement in memory capacity is reduced.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/064,612, filed on Jul. 31, 2002, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates in general to an image correction method, and more particularly, to an image correction method to help avoid error images.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

In terms of functionalities, the scanner is an intermediate between the photocopier and the camera. In the past, the application of scanners is restricted to special art work due to the very high cost. In recent years, the rapidly growing computer technique and the active competition in the market result in signification cost reduction for the scanners. Eventually, the scanner has become a popular peripheral of personal computers.

Depending on the price or functionality, scanners can be categorized into several types. Typically, scanners can be categorized into handheld scanner, sheet-feed scanner, card reader, film scanner and flatbed scanner. The flatbed scanner includes a glass flatbed on which the document to be scanned is disposed. By shifting the sensor, the information of the document is read. As the structure is not very complex and the method for using it is not difficult, plus the outstanding function expandability, the flatbed scanners have become the application main stream for the current computers.

Basically, scanners are divided into black-and-white type and color type with respect to color display, and reflective type and transparent type with respect to the scanning method. The following uses a reflective type color scanner as an example to introduce the basic structure of a scanner. Referring to FIG. 1, the basic structure of a color scanner 10 is shown. The color scanner 10 comprises a lamp 102, an optical system 104, a charge-coupled device (CCD) 106, and an analog/digital (A/D) converter 108. Functions of various parts of the color scanner 10 are further described as follows.

When the lamp 102 is used as the light source of the color scanner 10, the light generated by the lamp 102 is incident on the document 110. The light is then reflected by the document 110 to project onto the optical system 104. The lamp 102 can be a fluorescent lamp, a cold cathode ray tube, or a light emitting diode array.

The optical system 104 consists of a reflection mirror 112 and a lens 114. Being focused by the reflection mirror 112 and the lens 114, the light reflected by the document 110 is reflected by the reflection mirror 112, focused by the lens 114, and then incident on the charge-coupled device 106.

The function of the charge-coupled device 106 includes converting the detected light intensity into photocurrent, which is then stored in the storage electrodes and converted into signal charges to generate various potential.

The analog/digital converter 108 converts the analog signal of the charge-coupled device 106 into a digital signal, and transmits the digital signal into a computer 118.

When the scanner is scanning a document or a picture, the non-uniformity of the lamp requires an image compensation operation. Generally speaking, a correction document is used for image correction. For example, for the reflective type scanning, a black correction document and a white correction document are used for image correction. If the correction document contains any unwanted object thereon, the unwanted streaking (LBB) effect is generated in the scanned image. Currently, there is no image correction method able to avoid such LBB effect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an image correction method to avoid error images. According to black and white characteristics, only the last few bits of a scanned digital signal are extracted during black correction. While performing white correction, only the first few bits of the scanned digital signal are extracted. The most significant bit of the digital signal is set as 1. Therefore, the LBB effect in scanned image caused by dust or spot on the correction document is avoided. Further, as fewer bits are extracted while scanning the digital signal, the memory requirement is reduced.

The image correction method able to avoid error images provided by the present invention is suitable for use in a scanner. While performing black correction, a first correction digital signal is obtained by scanning a first document. Only the last few bits of the first correction digital signal are extracted. While performing white correction, a second correction digital signal is obtained by scanning a second correction document, and only first few bits of the second correction digital signal are extracted. Meanwhile, the most significant bit of the second correction digital signal is set as 1.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the last few bits of the first correction digital signal are stored in a memory. The memory includes a random access memory (RAM).

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first few bits of the second digital signal are stored in a memory such as a random access memory.

In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first correction document includes a black document.

In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second correction document includes a white correction document.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the black correction includes the following steps. When the first correction signal is obtained by scanning the first correction document, an image extraction device is used to obtain the first correction analog signal. The first correction analog signal is then converted into a first correction digital signal by the image extraction device. The image extraction device includes a charge-coupled device.

The step of performing white correction further includes the following steps. When the second correction signal is obtained by scanning the second correction document, the image extraction device is used to obtain the second correction analog signal. The second correction analog signal is then converted into a second correction digital signal by the image extraction device.

According to the above, the present invention provides an image correction method able to avoid error images. According to two opposite characteristics of black and white, only the last few bits of the digital signal obtained by scanning are extracted during black correction. While performing white correction, only the first few bits of the digital signal obtained by scanning are extracted, and the most significant bit of the digital signal is configured as 1. Therefore, the LBB effect on the image caused by dust or spot on the correction document is avoided. Further, in the digital signal obtained by scanning, fewer bits are extracted, so that the required memory capacity is reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention, the objects and features of the invention and further objects, features and advantages thereof will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

FIG. 1 shows the basic structure of a color scanner; and

FIG. 2 shows the process flow of an image correction method for helping to avoid errors in images according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Prior to the description of the embodiment, it should be noted that although the embodiment is described using the scanning process for the reflection document as an example, for those skilled in the art, the invention is also applicable to the scanning process for the transparent document.

Referring to FIG. 2, an image correction method able to avoid error images in one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. In the image correction method, firstly, whether a black correction or a white correction is performed is determined in step s202. While performing black correction, the scanner uses the lamp to radiate a light on a first correction document. The light reflected by the document is then incident on a reflection mirror of an optical system, and focused by a lens of the optical system to obtain a first correction optical signal. An optoelectric conversion is performed to convert the first correction optical signal into an electrical first correction analog signal by an image extraction device (such as charge-coupled device). The first correction analog signal is then converted into a first correction digital signal by an analog/digital converter. While performing black correction, the response of the image extraction device is small, such that the first few bits of the first digital correction signal are zero, and only the last few bits (such as last 8 bits) are extracted. Thus, the LBB effect caused by dust or spot on the first correction document is avoided. Further, the first correction document includes a black correction document (s204). Only the extracted last few bits of the first correction digital signal are stored in a memory such as a random access memory, so that the storage capacity requirement of the memory is reduced (s206).

When white correction is performed, the lamp of the scanner is incident on the second document. The light is then reflected by the second document, incident on the reflection mirror of the optical system, and focused by the lens of the optical system to obtain a second correction optical signal. The second correction optical signal is converted into an electrical second correction analog electric signal by optoelectric conversion via the image extraction device. The second correction analog electric signal is converted into a second correction digital signal via the analog/digital converter. While performing white correction, the response of the image extraction device is significant, so that the most significant bit of the second digital correction signal has to be set as 1. Therefore, only the first few bits (such as first 8 bits) of the second correction digital signal are extracted. In this way, the LBB effect caused in the scanned image by dust or spot on the second correction document is avoided. The second correction document includes a white correction document (s208). The extracted first few bits of the second correction digital signal are stored in the memory such as the random access memory. As only the last few bits of the second correction digital signal are stored in the memory such as the random access memory. As only the last few bits of the second correction digital signal are stored, the requirement in storage capacity of the memory is reduced (s210).

According to the above, the present invention uses the opposite characteristics of black and white to extract only the last few bits of the scanned digital signal for black correction and the first few bits of the scanned digital signal for white correction. Meanwhile, the most significant bit of the scanned digital signal for white correction is 1. Therefore, the LBB effect caused on the scanned image by dust or spot on the correction document is avoided. Further, in the scanned digital signal, fewer bits are extracted to reduce the capacity requirement of the memory.

Other embodiments of the invention will appear to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples to be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims. 

1-11. (canceled)
 12. An apparatus, comprising: means for obtaining a white correction digital signal by scanning a document during white correction; means for extracting only a plurality of first bits of the white correction digital signal; and means for setting the most significant bit of the white correction digital signal to a value of one.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising: means for obtaining a black correction digital signal; and means for extracting only a plurality of last bits of the black correction digital signal.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising means for storing the extracted bits having the most significant bit set to one.
 15. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising means for storing the extracted first bits of the white correction digital signal in a memory.
 16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the document comprises a white correction document.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the means for obtaining the black correction digital signal utilizes a black correction document that is different than the white correction document.
 18. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising: means for scanning the document to obtain a correction analog signal; and means for converting the correction analog signal into the white correction digital signal.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the scanning means includes a charge-coupled device.
 20. An apparatus, comprising: circuitry configured to: obtain a white correction digital signal by scanning a white correction document during white correction; extract only a plurality of first bits of the white correction digital signal; and set the most significant bit of the white correction digital signal to a value of one.
 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the circuitry is further configured to: obtain a black correction digital signal by scanning a black correction document during black correction; and extract only a plurality of last bits of the black correction digital signal.
 22. The scanning device of claim 20, wherein the circuitry is further configured to: scan the white correction document to obtain a white correction optical signal; use an image extracting device to obtain a white correction analog signal corresponding to the obtained white correction optical signal; and use an analog/digital converter to convert the obtained white correction analog signal into the white correction digital signal.
 23. The scanning device of claim 21, further operable to: scan the black correction document to obtain a black correction optical signal; use an image extracting device to obtain a black correction analog signal corresponding to the obtained black correction optical signal; and use an analog/digital converter to convert the obtained black correction analog signal into the black correction digital signal.
 24. A method, comprising: scanning a target object during white correction to obtain a white correction digital signal; extracting only a plurality of first bits of the white correction digital signal; and setting the most significant bit of the white correction digital signal to a value of one.
 25. The method of claim 24, further comprising: obtaining a black correction digital signal; and extracting only a plurality of last bits of the black correction digital signal.
 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the extracted last bits of the black correction digital signal are stored in a memory.
 27. The method of claim 24, wherein the extracted first bits of the white correction digital signal are stored in a memory.
 28. The method of claim 24, further comprising: scanning the target object to obtain a correction optical signal; using an image extracting device to obtain a correction analog signal based on the correction optical signal; and converting the correction analog signal into the white correction digital signal.
 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the image extraction device comprises a charge coupled device.
 30. An apparatus, comprising: circuitry configured to: obtain a digital signal by scanning a scan object; if the digital signal is obtained during a first mode, extract only a plurality of last bits of the digital signal; and store only the extracted ones of the bits in a memory thereby minimizing a memory requirement for storing a representation of the scan object.
 31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the circuitry is further configured to: if the digital signal is obtained during a second mode, extract only a plurality of first bits of the digital signal; and set a most significant one of the extracted first bits to a value of one.
 32. A method, comprising: scanning a target object to obtain a digital signal; if the digital signal is to represent black, extracting only a plurality of last bits of the digital signal; and storing only the extracted ones of the bits in a memory thereby minimizing a memory requirement for storing a representation of the scan object.
 33. The method of claim 32, further comprising: if the digital signal is to represent white, extracting only a plurality of first bits of the digital signal; and setting a most significant one of the stored bits to a value of one. 